As presented by a family member who worked on it, may I introduce you to Operation Plowshare (
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Plowshare ) in which the US government from 1961 to 1974 checks out how dope it would be to use nukes for peaceful construction purposes?
"What? Really?"
"Oh yes. There was talk of Los Angeles being too hot and in need of a cross breeze. Had to get those pesky mountains out of the way."
" Are you sure this wasn't called 'Operation Really Bad Idea'?"
SCIENCE!!!